Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Houston Texans
Claimed:
- DB Alex Austin, G Nick Broeker
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Khalil Davis, T Austin Deculus, CB Cobi Francis, DL Ali Gaye, S Brandon Hill, WR Johnny Johnson, TE Dalton Keene, OL Jimmy Morrissey, DE Adedayo Odeleye, DE Derek Rivers, WR Steven Sims, LB Garret Wallow, P Ty Zentner
Indianapolis Colts
Placed on IR:
- TE Jelani Woods (story)
Signed:
- WR Isaiah McKenzie (story)
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Liam Anderson, S Henry Black, S Marcel Dabo, RB Jake Funk, S Ronnie Harrison (story), RB Jason Huntley, WR D.J. Montgomery, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (story), LB Donavan Mutin, WR Amari Rodgers, DT Caleb Sampson, T Dan Skipper, WR Mike Strachan, CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, CB Kevin Toliver, WR Juwann Winfree
Jacksonville Jaguars
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL Chandler Brewer, OLB D.J. Coleman, OL Coy Cronk, DL De’Shaan Dixon, CB Erick Hallett, LB Dequan Jackson, TE Derek Parish, QB Nathan Rourke, OL Darryl Williams, WR Seth Williams, CB Tevaughn Campbell, RB Snoop Conner, WR Jacob Harris
Tennessee Titans
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Chance Campbell, DB Shyheim Carter, DB Eric Garror, WR Tre’Shaun Harrison, WR Mason Kinsey, DB Armani Marsh, DE T.K. McLendon, TE Thomas Odukoya, T John Ojukwu, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Kyle Peko, T Andrew Rupcich, LB Thomas Rush, DT Michael Dwumfour, TE Kevin Rader, G Jordan Roos
Released:
- OL Corey Levin
Released from IR via injury settlement:
- CB Josh Thompson
- RB Jonathan Ward
Titans Trim Roster To 53; RB Hassan Haskins Placed On Commissioner’s Exempt List
The Titans have made a number of moves which have allowed them to set their initial 53-man roster. Here is the full breakdown:
Waived:
- LB Chance Campbell
- DB Shyheim Carter
- DT Michael Dwumfour
- DB Eric Garror
- WR Tre’Shaun Harrison
- DB Steven Jones
- DB Tyreque Jones
- WR Mason Kinsey
- T John Leglue
- DB Armani Marsh
- DE T.K. McLendon
- WR Racey McMath
- TE Thomas Odukoya
- T John Ojukwu
- DE Sam Okuayinonu
- RB Jacques Patrick
- WR Reggie Roberson
- T Andrew Rupcich
- LB Thomas Rush
Released:
- DT Trevon Coley
- DT Jaleel Johnson
- LB Ben Niemann
- DT Kyle Peko
- TE Kevin Rader
- G Jordan Roos
Waived/injured:
Placed on Reserve/PUP list:
- CB Caleb Farley (story)
Placed on Commissioner’s Exempt List:
Haskins had been placed on IR yesterday, meaning he will be sidelined for the season. The 2022 fourth-rounder’s future with the team is now murkier, however, given today’s placement on the Exempt List. Haskins – who was arrested on an aggravated assault charge in June – will need to apply for reinstatement to be eligible to return when healthy.
McMath has logged 14 appearances in Tennessee across his two seasons with the team. The former sixth-rounder will lose out on a roster spot in the Titans revamped receiving corps, which will of course be led by free agent signing DeAndre Hopkins. McMath would represent a prime practice squad candidate if he goes unclaimed, something which, given his lack of offensive playing time and production, can be expected.
Letting go of Coley, Johnson and Peko (at least for now) will leave the Titans thin along the defensive interior. That trio has combined to play 147 games in the NFL, representing plenty of experience the team will be without to start the season. Plenty of Tennessee’s success will be determined by the play of Jeffery Simmons and his fellow D-line starters, but they will be leaned on heavily in the absence of veteran backups.
Titans Sign 14 Undrafted Free Agents
The Titans have added to their six-man draft class to bring in 20 total rookies. Here are the 14 undrafted free agents vying for a roster spot this summer:
- DT Shakel Brown (Troy)
- WR Jacob Copeland (Maryland)
- WR Tre’Shaun Harrison (Oregon State)
- S Matt Jackson (Eastern Kentucky)
- CB Steven Jones (Appalachian State)
- S Tyreque Jones (Boise State)
- CB Anthony Kendall (Baldwin Wallace)
- RB Charles McClelland (Cincinnati)
- DE TK McClendon (Eastern Kentucky)
- OLB Caleb Murphy (Ferris State)
- OT John Ojukwu (Boise State)
- LB Otis Reese (Mississippi)
- OLB Thomas Rush (Minnesota)
- K Trey Wolff (Texas Tech)
Murphy is an intriguing addition to a Titans defense that had some good pass rush performances in 2023 but nothing elite with the absence of Harold Landry. Murphy was virtually unblockable while leading Ferris State to two consecutive Division-II national titles. He put up two monster performances for the Bulldogs in those seasons, combining for 40.0 sacks and 60.5 tackles for loss over the last two years. He has the potential to provide to the rotation and compete for snaps behind Landry and Denico Autry with Arden Key and Rashad Weaver.
McClendon will compete as well after tallying six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss for the Colonels last year. Reese could surprise as a contributor at inside linebacker. He was a tackling machine for the Rebels, finishing second on the team last year with 84.
Copeland and McClelland will be joining their respective drafted teammates, sixth-round tackle Jaelyn Duncan and fifth-round tight end Josh Whyle, at minicamp. Jackson will join McClendon as a Mountaineer addition after leading the defense with 87 total tackles last year. He’s also a Nashville native, having attended high school at Hillsboro.
Tennessee inked another pair of teammates in Jones and Ojukwu. Ojukwu brings a strong resume after earning All-Mountain West first-team honors in each of the past two seasons as the Broncos starting left tackle. Jones has experience throughout college at both safety and nickelback.
Wolff comes in with the intention of battling Caleb Shudak for the responsibility of replacing Randy Bullock. Shudak only appeared in one game of his rookie year out of Iowa last season. He made three of four kicks, missing a 35-yard attempt. Wolff converted 42 of 52 field goal attempts and 107 of 110 of his PATs as a Red Raider. They’ll likely face off for kicking duties this summer.